Philadelphia 76ers: 2023 offseason starting small forward rankings

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Philadelphia 76ers, James Harden (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Continuing the series concerning the ranking of each starting position, this article will be focused on the small forward spot. Thus far I’ve covered both point guard and shooting guard positions, so moving on to the small forward spot makes sense. It will be interesting to see where the Philadelphia 76ers starting small forward Tobias Harris lands on this list.

30. Ziaire Williams, Grizzlies

With the departure of Dillon Brooks, the Memphis Grizzlies have a handful of unproven players to fill his spot, but when healthy, Ziaire Williams has shown to be able to fill in the role well enough. The 6-foot-8 forward has shown defensive versatility and but the 3-point shot has to improve. If it does, the Grizzlies won’t miss Brooks on the court at all.

29. Deni Avdija, Wizards

The defensive versatility of Deni Avdija has been the reason why the 6-foot-9 hasn’t been a complete bust for the Washington Wizards. Avdija has shown flashes of an outside shot, but it’s been pretty inconsistent up to this point. While Corey Kispert will be a threat to his starting job, Avdija should have some room to continue to make mistakes on this rebuilding team.

28. Ausar Thompson, Pistons

Despite being a top-five pick in this past draft, there’s not too much known about Ausar Thompson. Based on his play during Summer League, the 6-foot-7 wing appears to have two-way talent. However, his success with the Detroit Pistons will be dictated by how well he shoots the 3-point line.

27. Josh Green, Mavericks

Inconsistency was the curse that Josh Green had to deal with last season. The 6-foot-6 wing was in and out of the lineup last season. If he can use his consistently use his athleticism and outside shooting, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a starter for the Dallas Mavericks.

26. Brandon Miller, Hornets

Inconsistency has been a problem for second-overall pick Brandon Miller during the Summer League. Miller has all the tools at 6-foo-9 to be a high-end 3-and-D wing in the NBA. With LaMelo Ball being the Charlotte Hornets’ starting point guard, Miller should make a smooth transition to the NBA.